If you're like most sports fans, you realized about two days ago that the Kentucky Derby is this Saturday.
So now you have to get up to speed on who's in the race, who are the favorites and, most impor tantly, how to make a mint julep.
We can help with all those things, but probably more with the drink than the horses. ...
This recipe basically comes from the Kentucky Derby Web site, but it happened to mention a specific brand of whiskey. I took that out unless I start getting paid for product placements.
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
Sprigs of fresh mint
Crushed ice
Bourbon whiskey
Silver julep cups (if you're fresh out of silver cups, use the good plastic)
The night before, boil the sugar and water together for five min utes to make a syrup. Put the syrup in a covered container, add six or eight sprigs of fresh mint and refrigerate overnight. On Der by day, fill a julep cup with crushed ice, add one tablespoon of the mint syrup and 2 ounces of whiskey. Stir briskly to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. Drink. Repeat.
Julep trivia from Wikipedia: The word "julep" is derived from the Persian "julab," meaning rose wa ter. Whatever.
bill.ordine@baltsun.com
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